Pray For Korea!

Turmoil in Koreas

I cannot begin to describe the overwhelming pain and sadness I feel for the people of North Korea. They have been in a constant state of famine, fear and faithlessness for over 40 years. The horrors and atrocities are unimaginable to our complacent-comfortable-convenient reality. 

I cling to the Hope I have in salvation through Jesus Christ - my just and sovereign Lord!

 "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." 

- Luke 12:6&7

"Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice..." - Deuteronomy 24:17

"But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.... Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." - Psalm 10:14 & 82:3

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 
- Romans 15:13

Give Thanks!

 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." - Romans 5:1-11

We have so much to be thankful for...

Pack Light

If you have been following the blog you may remember the picture of my close companion, "Yellow Backpack." My dear friend and I were literally and not always happily inseparable from march to august of this year. 

Throughout the summer and changing locations every three to four days, I became a master packer - no really I have perfected the art! I gradually, strategically and systematically over four months eliminated all unnecessary weight and bulk. The Nalgene went, the water filter, the sleeping mat and the full size towel. Now those may seem like crucial and to some extent even life preserving items, but if you're resourceful enough you can get by without them - trust me!

Now when I decided to fly home for Thanksgiving this past week, I knew I definitely wanted to only bring a carryon. One, because I didn't have a suitcase and two, I didn't want to pay the fee. I figured, if I can live out of a backpack for four months, then I could totally get by with a tote bag for a four-day-weekend!

Sure enough it worked, and I even remembered to leave my knife at home this time!

During the holidays we seem to come down with Bass-syndrome; we get hooked on bright lights and fancy displays that tell us what we "need" and how last year's "necessities" are now obsolete. I've decided for the next month when twinkling stars and aromatic smells make me wish for the next can't-live-without item, I will remind myself of Matthew 16:24-26,

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?'"

This world has nothing to offer, but emptiness and dissatisfaction - Follow Him!

Sweet Home Alabama

This past weekend I spent three amazing days surrounded by some of the most awesome people I have ever had the privilege to know. It was our Nehemiah Teams reunion. Those of you who have been reading my blog, know that Nehemiah Teams (NT) is the missions organization I have been working with since 2005 and the group with whom I just spent seven months working for in the Philippines this past January to July and the reason for the creation of this blog. I am extremely passionate about this project and the founders' intense passion to take the gospel to unreached and hard-to-reach peoples of the world. I thoroughly encourage any high school senior or college/grad student to strongly consider taking one summer and experience the world through a Nehemiah Team. I promise you, your life, will never be the same!

Till * ALL * Have * Heard


Romans 10:14-15

LOVE IT!

EVERYONE needs to check out my new favorite charity Hope Coffee.


15% of their revenue goes to support missions and their farms are worked by vocational pastors and missionaries who otherwise would not have funds to do their ministry.


Their website recently went public and just in time for your holiday shopping. I mean, whats better than delicious coffee, at a fair price, that also gives the gift of life? What an appropriate way to celebrate the birth of our Saviour!

More Than Conquerors

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.


What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

'For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " Romans 8: 28-39


I have to admit, my transition back to the states wasn't very easy. A lot has transpired over the past couple months and things continue to pop up in my path and try to get the best of me. However, I take great courage and encouragement from the promise of Romans 8, that I am MORE than a conqueror! I read this passage and I can almost hear the Rocky theme song playing in the background as I continue to blitz through my day, my to-do-lists, and everything else that has gotten me bogged down and bummed out from time-to-time. My doubts about life and my ability to do life gets a nice Balboa one-two straight to the kisser. Nothing can separate me from the love of God, and therefore nothing can stop me.


And while the fictional Philly boxing legend's instrumental processions gets just about anyone physched and amped up for a fight, my personal more appropriate rendition has lately been Chris Tomlin's "Our God,"

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You


Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You


Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…


Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.


Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…


Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…


And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?


Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Do you have theme songs and special pick me up remedies? Do share.

Coconuts on the Brain

So I know I've been super into Philippines nostalgia this week, but I can't help it! I got to talk to my dear sweet  Naomi, who is a journeyman on the island of Samar. Reminiscing with her about our adventures brought back a flood of exciting memories, which led me to pore over my journal and peruse through my pics. I felt like my first journal entry on the 13-something-hour plane ride from JFK to Hong Kong was worth sharing, especially since most of ya'll prayed me through those exciting yet sometimes trying seven months.


Journal Entry # 1 - January 7, 2010
Cathay Pacific Airlines JFK - HK

“So here I start my seven-month journey on an immense and deafly silent plane. The stillness of the plane only enhances the throbbing of my heart. I wonder if I will truly ever feel…right? As I sip the dark liquid, steaming on my tray, my senses are enhanced and my breathing is slowed. My thoughts wander and ponder – have I gone to do great things or have I fled from reality? Are these my thoughts or the poisonous doubts of the serpent? The jungle has forever been my oasis; the frontlines my refuge – why would this not be exactly what I was suppose to do? “Normal” seems to be my snare and while I cannot ignore my transgressions, maybe it is in fact the sign I need, to know and fulfill my rendezvous with destiny!


I seem to be overwhelmingly focused on my negatives and my fears, but uncertainty should not rule nor plague my existence. On the contrary, let my strengths, accomplishments and peace-filled passions be the markers that highlight my goings. Why wait for a bolt of lightening to illuminate my steps, when the Peace that surpasses all understanding is the song that steadies my soul. Can there be more definite signs than the gracious outpouring of a childhood friend and her unfamiliar spouse, whose religious convictions are a fraction of their generosity or the sincere sacrifice of less-than-mediocre income families or even the respect and reverence of a tiny congregation with their Everest-esque hearts? I think barring a Damascus-road experience, there can be no clearer affirmation, no brighter green light.


Now that assurance seems to have cajoled my faith, what should be the tone and attitude of my mission? Is it one of duty and sacrifice? Or is it jubilance and thanksgiving? Is it urgency and fervency? Is it compassion and love? Yes. It should be all these things and more, but most of all, my mission should be marked by love – God’s love. It is my prayer that I will come further into the presence of my Lord, that I will more accurately imitate the love of Christ everyday, that I will be humbled to the point of unfettered sacrifice; for I have nothing to mourn the absence of or in the reverse be prideful of its existence.


‘I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.' If I could honestly emulate these poignant words of the Apostle Paul, then the world would surely be impacted by my actions and the workings of the Spirit that dwells within me; then my mission could be concluded a success. It is my selfish pride and vain conceit that will inevitably be the frustrating stumbling block to my ministry, but I am far too stubborn to let even me beat me – the Devil will have to make a greater attempt than these! With fervent prayer and unceasing petition, I know it is possible to make myself sincerely insignificant and Christ unmistakably magnanimous! May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be Yours!


I do not ever seem to get much right the first time around, but when I fall on my face, I do it whole-heartedly. My passion pedal has one speed and it is usually uncharted by a limited needle and gage. It does not excuse my impulsive and subsequently dreadful experiences, but it is a fate I am almost happy to accept. The day I become numb to the world, the hour I transform into a drone and an unaffected, heartless machine is the day I will surely shrivel up and cease to live. It is the broken, correction; it is the shattered state of my heart that has infinitely expanded my ability to love and willingness to serve. To tape me up and bind my heart from feeling and emotion would be to reverse all progress the Holy Spirit has made in training this soldier. May my heart never be whole again until I am one day restored to my heavenly home and at the feet of my most precious Savior."

(Note: Please ignore the run on sentences and other gramatical errors. I wanted to keep it the same as the day I wrote it, which is really hard for me to not to compulsively edit my writing. I think the lack of perfection adds to the poetic tone of its message.)


I hope my vulnerable tale of fear and uncertainty helps inspire you to tackle a mountain today! God Bless!

Leftovers

I hope ya'll love leftovers as much as me. In my opinion, some food tastes better after its aged a day or two. Spaghetti always taste better after it has sat on the refridgerator shelf for at least a full 24 hours. Thanksgiving leftovers are some of my favorites because your holiday bird makes yummy yummy sandwiches and candied yams are one the few times you can get away with eating marshmallows for breakfast as an adult.

However, these are not those kind of leftovers. When skimming through my few hundred pixeled souvenirs from my 7-month excursion in the Philippine Islands, I found a few that just made me smile and remember those crazy crazy days of summer with my american student volunteers. While I'm stingy with my yams, these I will share!

This picture was taken during my very last week in the Philippines from a highyway overpass. It's such a harsh overwhelming reality to see the stark contrast of the miles of shanties against the modern city skyline.

This was a bitter sweet moment for my girls and I, when our precious little Analiza was well enough to go home. This particular orphanage actually took in malnoursihed tribal children, nursed them back to health, and returned them to their loved ones.

Storm-like-serenity

Tuesday afternoon, I took a break from work to my caffeinated oasis (Starbuks of course). I don't know about you, but I have a hard time finding stillness in my life. It's always go-go-go and there's no time to stop and smell the roses or even appreciate the wind on your face. This week has been a dreary mess of wind and rain, with nightly threats of tornadoes and more severe storms than have actually taken place. However, as I sat in the cold metal black chair, sipped my grande-skim-latte, and soaked up the inner-stillness as the blustery wind swirled around me, there was something oddly serene about that moment of silence in the looming storm. It was as if God was using the wind to form a barrier around me, shielding me from all my stress and pain, telling me that my giants could not find me here and that I could relax for awhile and enjoy my coffee and be at peace. I didn't read or text or journal, I just sat and was quiet for a little while. I felt safe and at peace because no matter what storms my come my way whether physiological or spiritual, I'm not in control. I just have to have faith in my Father and Creator to guide and protect me no matter how dark the night or how strong the wind.


Are you stressed? Forget yoga, aromatherapy, and day spas, snuggle into your favorite sweat shirt, cuddle up to hot soothing cup of coffee and let God wrap his ever so light yet undeniably strong and protective arms around you. To God be the glory!


"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the pwer of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

Frustration

Sunday, I attended church and the interim pastor decided to give me a good ulcer with his particular illustration of "Sweet Spot Living." He gave some good scripture references and even told the infamous tale of William Wilberforce. He told of how Wilberforce alienated himself and nearly ended up on his deathbed for his devout efforts to abolish the slave trade in England.

However, directly following the surreal labors of a truly self-sacrificing man, the preacher proceeds with a video of a local church member. It told of how she worked a dead end job for many years and was eventually let go. She was devastated and desperate. She was even desperately afraid, of ending up in another dead end job. She took a risk and opened her own business. Her business is now very successful.

The End

When the camera fade set in, acknowledging a conclusion, I was astonished. I think my mouth may have even dropped open.


Where was God in all of that? How does that story at all depict what it means to have found true life and unfettered joy in Jesus Christ? The only time her story really mentioned God’s involvement was that she initially didn’t think God would let her do something that made her happy, and confessed that she didn’t give Him enough credit.


One, how on earth do you follow the noble story of William Wilberforce, with a person’s self-gratifying ambition to open their own business? Secondly, how do use such an illustration to describe finding “Sweet Spot Living,” especially if we’re speaking in a Christian context? There was no mention of her relationship with God, or how she used this blessing of success to better serve God and ultimately there was zero mention of her involvement in advancing the Kingdom of God.


Now, I’m not saying she is not doing any of these things, because there is a very good chance that she is and I will of course give her the benefit of the doubt, because lets be real, who among us is really doing ALL we can to serve God?


My bone to pick is not with her, but with the Church staff that sat around a boardroom and brainstormed this idea. I get all worked up just thinking about the implications made and the message it sent to the congregation – life isn’t about suffering for the name of Jesus and the winning of lost souls, it’s about finding a job/career/hobby/thing to fill your time, that makes you happy; life is about Y-O-U. I cannot begin to describe the sorrow that fills my soul to hear such heresy in a Church generation that already so seldom teaches the Great Commission.


Let us consult the authority on this subject. Jesus said,

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15: 7 & 8

If you claim to live in the grace of Calvary, then life is lived as Christ commands – the bearing of fruit at the expense of self. As ironic and irrational as faith motivated sacrifice seems to the secular realm, the contradiction that is personified by the nature of an omniscient God transfers to the life of His beloved: in that we may be miserable, destitute dregs of society, but there is also joy, pure abundant joy, in life lived for THE calling. “…follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt 4:19; Mark 1:17)






Till. ALL. Have. Heard.

Sidelined?

It has been 3 weeks now since I re-entered American society. I am adjusted. There have been moments of sheer bewilderment and embarrassing confusion, but I have done the coming and going a good bit now and have more or less gotten the hang of things.

My first McDonald’s drive-thru coffee acquisition, ended with a few frustrated and home-sick tears, when I could not for the life of me decide how to make forty-one cents out the pile of American coins in my hand. Now that sounds like a seemingly-easy task, but a quarter looks like a peso to me and it all just went down hill from there. My first Sunday back in The States was the most intense culture shock experience I have ever had! I was in my first all English worship service, in an air-conditioned building, with no screaming children, not one mangy dog or surprise chicken. The guitar had all six strings and everyone sang on key, and quite well I might add. It was reverent and maybe a tad somber. I had to remind myself to listen to the preacher, “YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HIM,” I kept trying to remind myself. Everything, about that hour was so distant from my more recently adapted vision of “Church.” I’m a tad sad I couldn’t shake the weirdness faster, because I was at an awesome mission-centered Church, which I do really love.


Since, stateside, I got a fabulous haircut on my 7-hour layover in L.A., took the red-eye to Miami, hopped a Church van in Atlanta, spent a weekend debriefing in Rainsville, took a lazy three-day sabbatical from life in Ft. Payne, enjoyed a fabulous-fun-filled weekend with four favorite new friends and one fantastic man in Birmingham, took a delightful detour in Nashville, reunited with the best family in the world in Glen Burnie, strolled down the inviting brick streets of Annapolis, gallivanted through rain, shine, and enchanting moonlight in the national mall of D.C., and packed my bags to head to gorgeous Greenville(SC).


------------------------->

(Mapquest calculates that trek to be 79 hours and 5 thousand plus miles; praise the Lord for areoplanes!!!)

<-------------------------

The past three weeks of American life have been outrageous and exhausting…


Now, I have loved every stinkin’ minute of it, but Sunday afternoon laying out by the pool not moving or thinking was a nice change of pace for sure! And what directly followed Sunday was the biggest sigh or relief, quite possibly heard ‘round the world! I DON’T HAVE TO MOVE ANYWHERE!!!! My bags are UNPACKED! I never thought I would see the day when staying in one place actually excited me so much, but today is that day people, and you are here to witness it with me. Don’t you feel privileged?! Those of you who are not religious followers of my blog (a.k.a. everyone but my parents) allow me to explain this odd marvel. From the beginning of April to the end of July I lived out of a backpack.



I changed locations or “transferred” as I would say in Filipino-English, every three to four days. Yay! Right? Travel is awesome! Well, hate to burst all you travel enthusiasts and envious home-buddies’ bubbles, but for me it got real old! Needless to say, folding up a T-shirt placing in a drawer and closing said drawer is quite the highlight of my day! Hey, I may not be a terribly "exciting" person right now, but at least I’m easy to please!

And while I may have temporarily vacated my jungle, I have NOT left the mission field!

Ecclesiastes 3

"A Time for Everything"

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak, 

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

I have a new season in South Carolina, but I assure you, I have not been sidelined (Hebrews 12:1)!




Till. ALL. Have. Heard.

Only two more weeks...GRABE!

I am at such a loss for words. How can it be over?! I was suppose to be here for seven months. In theory, that seems like a long time. O but wait…it’s over…

VERY VERY VERY SAD!

How do I soak it all up? How do I enjoy every moment? How do I make every minute count? I am so busy. I have been glued to a computer for three days, surrounded by hoards of white American volunteers…its like I’m already gone!!!

Then a little, dirty, 3-year-old street kid climbs up into my lap. I’m still working on the computer slightly ignoring but not discouraging the new attachment. He falls asleep on my left arm leaving me somewhat disabled, and I’m in a HURRY! I’m trying to transfer files from my computer to another so I can leave and go visit another one of my teams. I needed to leave two days prior; needless to say I’m LATE. I sigh and drop my eyes to the beautiful Angel in my arms and I softly sing to him in his heart language of Tagalog, stroke his hair and watch him sleep so hard and so peaceful knowing he is safe in my arms.

With computer projects looming over my head, stress of life back home beginning to be a reality, trying to get to from one team to another in spite of illness and typhoons…I have completely gone into work/supervisor/robot mode. I have to get work done. I have to accomplish one task after the other.

Iman, my lap tenant, taught me a very important lesson that day. Stop. Be still. God is at work around me and if I don’t take a breath and look up (or down) for at least a second, I will miss out on the little moments and the kind ways in which my Heavenly Father likes to remind me, He is with me and He loves me.

Si Hesus mahigugmahon ang mga bata…Jesus loves the children…

Photo Credit: Malloree Karmine Cocchia

Peace Settled Over The Valley…and there was stillness in my soul.

Fourth of July weekend, was vacay time for several of my student-volunteer teams so they took off to Puerta Galera for some much needed R&R. I saw this as my golden opportunity to finally make it up river in Easter Samar, the area I lived during my summer mission in 2006. I wanted OUT of the city!

Immediately upon arriving in Brgy. Arroganna, I climbed down the broken, crooked steps to the river bank, sat on a pile of ply wood and gazed at my beloved river.

Those are the most soothing sights of my entire Philippines experience – nowhere else in PI feels more like home! I spent the months of June and July of 2006 up the Dolores River, going house-to-house sharing the gospel with an un-reached people group, the Warray Warray. We went to 26 villages that summer and had the most amazing encounters with the miraculous power of the Almighty God!

My heart had been burdened for years for this people and what was to be of them, now that I was not there. Nehemiah Teams has sent a team to that river every year since, even 2010. I got to meet with the team and hear about the ministry they were doing. They even told me about one man who mentioned me by name and said I shared the gospel with him, he then asked the team to come do a Bible study in his home. Wow! God you are so good, to let me even have a glimpse of the harvest being done in a place I toiled many years ago – and it only got better from there.

Sunday, July 4th, many back in the States were eating hot dogs and hamburgers, playing wiffle ball out in the yard with the kids, and finding a good spot to lay down a blanket for the evening festivities – fireworks! I love fireworks. However, July 4th in the Philippines was much different:

It was the 1st church anniversary for the church in Arroganna, coincidentally a church that directly resulted from a Nehemiah Team that went there and began seed sowing in 2008 and the team that followed in 2009. Christians from several villages along the river came; it was a great day of food, fun, and fellowship. There were three ladies from a barangay that I had visited in 2006. Since several teams have been there, when I asked if they remembered me, they at first called me "Becca," a girl who came the year after me. I said, “ No, before becca, the first visitors” and they excitedly said “O, yes, the song!” I was so excited! They did not remember my face, or my name, but they did remember the song I sang in Warray Warray – “Ikaw Ang Kusog” (You Are the Strength). Who cares about me? They got the Message!

After anniversary festivities the real fun began! Naomi ( JourneyWOman to Eastern Samar) and I had some “bucket list” experiences we thoroughly enjoyed! The afternoon proceeded with pony-ride-esque trips around the field mounted on a water buffalo, or carabao as they are known locally. “How do you get carbao grime off?” you may ask, run through the village, leap through the air off the small wooden dock into the river, and repeat. If that is not enough refreshment for you, swim across the river and back against the downstream current with an entourage of about a dozen plus kids - or at least that’s how Naomi and I did it! We then sun bathed with the remnant of afternoon light on the shore, or until a mud fight broke out and we were caught in the middle - not exactly a Sandals Beach Resort, but definitely more character!

Right before the sun took its final plunge and the night sky rose in its full starlight glory, we strolled up the hill to an overlook that viewed into the dusk illuminated river valley. The sun set and so settled my soul for a people who were once so lost. Witnessing a church anniversary and seeing so many Christians where there was once none, gave me such a glimpse of the faithfulness of an Everlasting God. He has done great things on my river, and brought eager steadfast workers. The Warray Warray will be reached and I am so blessed to have had such a small part. Hindi basta basta!

Romans 10:14

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believed in the one of whom thay have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

Who Exempted You from The Great Commission?

Last week during team time with the Mindoro Nanny Team we were reading through the J. Hudson Taylor biography and after I had finished sharing how the story had impacted me and which parts I liked, Meredith asked me about how I came to know that I wanted to be a missionary. I smiled and said, “Well a long, long time ago, back when I was a freshman in college (they act like I'm so old!), I had really started to get my life on track and become more focused on God. I was very involved in our campus ministry; I was on leadership, taught Bible study, attended weekly worship and helped organize all social functions. Therefore, when my campus minister approached me with an application for “Summer Missions” I thought, “Why not! I do everything else involved with our campus ministry.”

However, my idea of summer missions was a little bit skewed. I had done “summer missions” in high school and we would go to a different state and do backyard bible club or visit some nursing homes for a week. But come 2005, I had landed myself on tiny poor fisherman islands off the north shore of Bohol, Philippines going hut-to-hut sharing the gospel for a total of two months! A far cry from Missouri retirement homes…

I further explained to the girls that I thought I knew what it meant to be a Christian before I arrived in PI that summer, but my eyes were slowly opened to the myth of comfortable Christianity being an option. I thought you were to live an upright life for people to see and possibly even desire to emulate, share the gospel with your co-workers (on the rare occasion that they flat out asked you to do so), raise Christian children, tithe, participate in some Church related activity (teach Sunday school or take my monthly rotation in the nursery), pray, read my Bible and call it a day. But after 2005 I can no longer claim ignorance, I now see through different eyes. Read and hear what the Lord is telling you.

“What does the landscape of our Christian scene look like? We have workbooks, podcasts, multiple Bibles and translations. We have the Men’s Bible, Sports Bible, Waterproof Bible, Hunters Bible, the Spirit-filled Bible (I thought they were all Spirit-filled?), John MacArthur’s Bible, Henry Blackaby’s Bible, Joel Osteen’s Bible, the Teen Bible, Children’s Bible, etc, etc, etc, while there are still 2000 languages without the Scriptures in their own language. We have Christian radio, small group Bible studies, Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night worship. We have concerts, seminars, and workshops. We know! But we are a people starving in the midst of abundance! A people empty while running from one activity to another. A people ‘honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me,’ declared Isaiah.

Knowing about Him doesn’t necessarily mean you know him. Singing a song doesn’t necessarily mean you worshipped him.” – Kuya Jess

“A tiny group of believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the gospel story.” – K. P. Yohannan

“1,700 languages have not a word of the Bible translated. Ninety percent of the people who volunteered for the mission field never get there. It takes more than a ‘Lord I’m willing!’ Sixty-four percent of the world has never heard of Christ. 5,000 people die every hour. The population of India equals that of North America, Africa, and South America combined. There is one Christian worker for every 50,000 people in foreign lands, while there is one Christian worker for every 500 in the United States.” – Jim Elliot’s Journal

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” – Rom. 10:14

“How can any honest Christian say he must have a special call not to do that sort of thing? How can he say that, unless he gets some specific call of God to preach the Gospel to the unreached, he has a perfect right to spend his life lining his pockets with money? Is it not absurd to suggest that a special call is necessary to become a missionary, but no call is required to gratify his own will or personal ambitions?”
 – Robert E. Speer

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Gal.2:20

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…” – Matt 28:19

“It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home.” – J. Hudson Taylor

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” – Acts 20:24

"Reality is...many of us have subsituted our American value of self-preservation for Christ's demands to take up a cross and follow Him." - Kuya Jess

“Some may wish to live within the sound of a Chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop with in a yard of Hell.” – C. T. Studd

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb…” – Rev 7:9

Wothy is the Lamb!

I beg you to break free from the cult of American Christianity – complacent and undisturbed by the cry of blood from millions of people heading to eternal Hell without ever hearing the name of Jesus!

Mabuhay!

Today concludes the month of June. It has been quite a month! The American Nehemiah teams arrived on June 10th. I had very specific and wonderfully detailed instructions from the better half of my missionary supervisors. However, not even Ate Wendy could have anticipated the nonsense that happened. Despite missing pick up vans, extra passengers, one semi-temporarily-missing student, one too many people and not enough beds, and slow moving airport delivery vans, everyone made it to the ten-plus Filipino ministry sites! Grabe! (That’s Filipino for “ goodness gracious!")

However, I did get a little present from Kuya Jess and Ate Wendy, a TRAVEL BUDDY!

HAAAAAL – LEEE – LU – IAH!!!!

I mean I’m glad they know I’m tough enough to hack it, I’m strong enough to endure it, and I’m brave enough to face it, but…but...dag nabit, I was lonely!… :(

My sojourning companion, Malloree, is the media team member for the four Luzon (northern-most island of the Philippines) based Nehemiah Teams that I’m supervising. She will travel around with me, taking pictures and writing blog entries about the teams we visit. Check out her work:

Urban Rescue (Ft. Bonofacio, Manila)

Manila Nanny – New Faith Family (Antipolo, Manila)

Manila Nanny – Open Door (San Pablo)

Manila Nanny – Ruel Foundation (Mindoro)

The two of us started with our delightfully unique and most hilariously distressing team in Ft. Bonofacio, Manila working in the red-light district, ministering to prostitutes. They are four joyfully spirited girls with beautifully willing hearts. No four girls were more perfect for this ministry. There is not work already being done in this area, it’s pretty much a start from “scratch” kind of gig. They spend their days hanging out in front of bars looking for girls who look like they could be…well…accepting money for sex. In case you weren’t aware they don’t exactly advertise it proudly, especially not to foreign student summer missionaries, so it's not an easy task. Nothing has deterred them. They have encountered bar owners who are snide and have the most unwelcoming darkness in their eyes, the kind that makes your arm hair stand on end and makes you desire several showers after even the most brief encounters. They have witnessed at least one demon possessed woman who stalked them in route home one evening and warned them of the “Satan” that lives in name of bar (left out for the girls privacy). They’ve been stood up on dates with the bar girls for Bible study, but they keep knocking on the doors! Yesterday morning, when Malloree and I went out praying walking with the four, we found all the bars had signs of being closed by “city ordinance,” and after questioning the lingering witnesses, we were informed that complaints had been made and permits had not been paid and they would all be closed until things were cleared up. This has given the girls a wider time-slot for ministry because they have nothing to do and no where to go. Last night during a Bible study, that most likely would have most likely been interrupted sooner by customers, four of the bar girls accepted Jesus! Praise God for picky political officials, unpaid permits, and lack of Filipino need to hurry – business may not be back for a while – pray with us for that!


Next on Andrea’s Agenda:

July 2-7 up river in Eastern Samar
July 8-12 Working at New Faith Family
July 13-18 Working at Open Door
July 19-24 Working at Ruel Foundation
July 25-26 Fairwell Philippines in Batangas
July 27-28 Back with Urban Rescue, just because…
July 29 IMB Guest Units, last minute details to get everyone back to the US
July 30 Plane to USA
Aug 1-3 Nehemiah Teams debrief in Ft. Payne, Alabama

...can you keep up?! :)


***Please don’t stop praying! I need you! This last month will probably be my hardest yet.***